Rally driver: the guide with everything you need to know to become a driver and enter your first race
Becoming a Rally Driver is a dream of many. A dream that may seem unattainable but that, at least on paper, can be achieved by many. Let’s find out with this simple guide all the necessary steps to become a Rally Driver and get to participate in your first race.
WHEREAS: The path may not be easy, it requires time and money (your own or through sponsors), but to become a Rally Driver you do not have to be a superhero or pass difficult tests. In this guide you can find the steps to follow to become a Pilot and participate in your first Rally perhaps without running into unpleasant surprises.
1. Obtaining an Aci Sport license.
To become a Rally Driver and participate in every Rally in Italy organized under the rules of Aci Sport, one must hold the relevant valid license. There are different licenses but, to start with, “C” National is the one to choose. The license can be applied for in each of the Aci provincial offices. It is necessary to attend a short theoretical course and submit the following documents:
- copy of identity document
- valid driver’s license B
- The medical certificate issued by a licensed sports physician
- Receipt for the payment made in the manner indicated
- tetanus vaccination certificate
2. Approved technical clothing
To carry out any activity in a race car, you must provide yourself with theapproved technical clothing that allows you to raise your safety level in a racing vehicle (as well as being mandatory as per regulations). This must include:
- Balaclava
- Complete underwear (long-sleeved shirt, pants, socks)
- Coveralls
- Shoes
- Gloves
In addition it is required:
- Helmet (open or full-face)
- Hans (the head restraint system, to be connected to the helmet)
This material should be used both for testing and during competitions (safety is never a factor to be underestimated). For this reason, it is best to supply yourself with it as soon as possible. It is possible to buy everything you need from a specialized store (either physical or online), verifying that each component meets the required homologation ( FIA standard 8856-2000 AND 8856-2018) and that the label is clearly on each component.
Alternatively, you can ask the team with which you will decide to race: they often have clothing that can be rented for the individual race without the need to incur a major outlay such as that due to buy all the equipment (although investing in personal equipment is always the choice to recommend for multiple factors: cleanliness, certainty that the materials have been stored away from light, always washed properly, correct sizes).
3. Choosing the first race to run
The choice of the first race to run may depend on a great many factors: choice of the championship or trophy to participate in, financial availability (the cost of a race also depends on its location and length), the surface on which you want to run and, a factor that may not be insignificant, logistical complexity.
Depending on the choice of the race to be contested may depend on the choice of the car to be used, and from there, back-engineering can be scheduled for testing to become familiar with the vehicle, study and training in note-writing, participation in a Driver’s Course and much more.
Much work precedes the first race, and in this our instructors will be able to provide you with the support you need to accomplish everything to the best of your ability, without making mistakes or forgetting important details.
4. Selection of the Rally car to be used
Go for a rental or buy your own car? Choose an old economical Group N or a more modern Group R? Front-wheel drive or start already with a 4×4?
Once again, the possible options are really many. As a first step, you need to evaluate the budget you have, on which it directly depends how many races per season you can do. Based on these factors one can evaluate different options so as to go and optimize the investment. In the case of insufficient budget, it is possible to try to develop partnerships and sponsorships with different companies to reach the required budget.
Contact us now to get all the technical advice you need now.
5. Searching for and choosing the Co-pilot
In rallies, the crew consists of two people: a driver and a co-driver. To make your first race you will need to find a co-driver who will navigate you in the race. With your co-driver you will have to spend a lot of time. From testing, to reconnaissance, from the race to traveling during the trip. It is therefore essential to find a person with whom there is a good feeling, technically prepared and, possibly, with good experience, so that he or she can become your first advisor and a good wingman with whom you can share your path in rallies.
It is possible that the team or rental company you will be racing with may have some names to suggest to you, and since you are new to this world, one of them may be the easiest choice. Over time you will then go on to figure out what your needs are, meet new co-drivers and go on to find and choose the one you think is best.
Instead, a viable choice is to be navigated by an instructor from the Codriving School with whom you have already had the opportunity to work. This choice will allow you to maximize your performance in competition and improve as quickly as possible.
6. Training, study and preparation
Racing in cars for us is something serious. That is why we believe it is essential to arrive fully prepared even for the first race. A minimum of physical preparation, a conscious and correct use of notes, firm notions and basic principles of driving should not be excluded. That is why to our students and future Rally Drivers, we always advise against improvisation, while having experienced instructors accompany them and attend some Rally Courses preparation is definitely the best choice that will bear fruit over time.
For further questions, doubts, curiosity or pre request information regarding our Rally Courses for Drivers e Co-Drivers, please do not hesitate to contact us by emailing us or filling out the form provided.